Our Story

Karen Lawrence began her business in her Grandfather's Essex garden. As a young child she grew up embraced and surrounded with freshly grown plants and flowers, and shortly thereafter began collecting fragrant soaps from around the world. While Karen may not, as a child, have known she was engaging in the beginning processes of launching a business; it is truly these many years of her doing so which has catapulted the ultimate success of this family-owned business.

Karen says, I coupled my love of natural botanicals, plants, and nature with my personal need to have skincare products that would help my sensitive skin. I found that some expensive commercial soaps claiming to be for 'Sensitive Skin' were irritating. I wanted to be in control of what I was putting on my skin and I wanted an 'honest' product. So, I developed a line of 100% natural soaps without the use of synthetic ingredients and chemicals, and rejoiced at the results! My formulations worked for me, were effective and soothed and nourished my skin, keeping me feeling fresh all day, all year round.

The first soap Karen ever made was an orange and lemon peel soap, scented with sweet orange and lemon essential oils, with added orange and lemon peels. She says, "Using this soap as my first example, I intensely studied everything from textures and scents to different combinations in ingredients. The ideas came from all directions and I had so much fun that I wanted to make more and more!" And, she has been ever since.

From Chelmsford Essex, in the South East of England, Karen creates body care products containing gentle, yet effective botanical ingredients. Having lived her entire life surrounded by the plush forests, blossoming parks, and rolling trees of Essex, Karen takes inspiration from her surroundings and places emphasis on what nature already provides our skin, just with a bit of creative assistance!

Mass manufactured brand soaps are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased in bulk size at a discounted price. These manufacturers are counting on consumers to think that soap is just soap, no big deal. However, take into account the amount of money many will spend on lotions, balms, and skin repair products because of the damage that cheap, manufactured soap causes! Why hurt your skin for £5.99 a 12/pack only to end up paying to heal your skin for much, much more? Lotions, balms, and healing oils are a delight to our skin and should be used often as invigorating blessings ~ but can become extremely costly when we have to use them for repairing damage!

These are the very reasons we believe in the products we create.

Karen's all natural skin care products have seen enormous success and have made a difference in the lives of many dealing with sensitive skin.

What is the Difference Between Mass Manufactured Soaps and Fresh HandMade Soaps?

Once you've made the switch from commercial to handcrafted soaps and enjoyed the benefits you can expect only from a fine handcrafted soap, you'll look with disdain upon the row upon row of cheap, smelly soaps in supermarkets and you'll see how far down the primrose path commercial soapmakers have strayed. We welcome you to read more on the History of Soap!

What Makes Fresh Hand-Made Soaps Unique?

·  Products are handmade using traditional methods. Which means the glycerine remains in the soap and is not extracted through the soapmaking process. For more information on ingredients, click here!

·  Products are not tested on animals. The only animal by-products you will find in Fresh Handmade Soap products are beeswax, honey, and goatmilk.

·  All products comply with European Legislation.

·  We do not use synthetic colours, preservatives or fragrances. The preservatives used are all natural and safe, such as rosemary extract, wheat germ oil or Vitamin E oil. Soaps are coloured with herbs, spices and natural clays.

·  Through the healing powers of pure vegetable oils, added botanicals, and essential oils, handmade soaps help your skin regain its natural glow! Fresh Handmade soaps will not strip away the oils from your skin nor will they irritate your skin.

·  All Fresh Hand-Made Soaps are biodegradable.

The Lawrence family is committed to keeping abreast of the most recent and productive ingredients, formulas and trends available in the ever-changing market. Their personal commitment not only to product, but to clients, means they absorb all new information available and then extract only the best from it!

A Note From Karen. By offering an innovative line of excellent soaps, gift certificates, lip balms, accessories, aroma butters, and one of our most popular Custom Made Soaps For Individuals and/or Businesses we feel confident that you will enjoy your Fresh Hand-Made Soap experience and look forward to counting you among our very exclusive "family" of clients.

Sincerely,